Head out early-ish on the big green bus. On the way, stop off so some people can `Zorb´ down a hill - thats where you get in a giantbeach ball. Opt out of that particular delight. Head instead, with much persuasion, to see the highly entertaining sheep show - see 19 different varieties, sheep dogs jumping off their backs, shearing, little lambs, a cow....the farmer doing the show was great fun, taking the mick out of everyone - very non-PC humour for the foreigners, great stuff.
Then we head for some more activities, which i am happy to watch....schweebing, or upside down monorail biking in a bubble, a bridge swing....crazy!
On the road again, stop off to see a rabbit being sheared....they love to shear things here!
Get to the hostel, go for a walk, see some WETA - prehistoric crickets - in a cave. Meet some blackwater rafters....doing that the next day....they loved it. Back at the hostel packed away some beers and loads of steak and salad. Bed.

Up the next day to go Blackwater Rafting....more rubber suits, woohoo! This activity consists of navigating through caves, sometimes walking, but mostly sitting in a big rubber ring and floating through the pitch black. See glow worms which was cool....at one point we were 65 ft underground! We formed a chain near the end and floated along singing `under the sea`....helped them out with some of the lyrics. It was quite cold down there and the sun felt good when we got out. I reckon we were underground just over an hour. luckily, hot showers and soup awaited us on the return. The more hardcore did abseiling and flying foxes aswell.

Back on the bus and head to Taupo.